“Gaming is for everyone” is the mantra of the founder and director of the OU Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation program.
OU ECCI Director Mike Aguilar, who is also affectionately referred to as Moog, said the program started just as a concept in 2016. It became among the first 25 institutionally supported Esports programs in higher education and received the Global Esports Award for Collegiate Program of The Year in 2023.
Now, OU ECCI further deepens its roots with a gaming facility located in Cross Village B that is set to open on Aug.12.
The Esports and Gaming Venue, which includes amenities like custom MSI setups — a line of computer hardware products for gaming laptops, graphics cards, motherboards and other components — virtual reality space and retro lounge, will be open to campus members seven days a week with membership. It will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays.
“We’ve worked to help students who love gaming understand that this is a place where this is celebrated,” said Aguilar.
There are more than 3,400 members — with representation from other colleges — across all three OU campuses in the OU Gaming Club community. Competitive video gaming builds skills like teamwork, strategic thinking and leadership, said Aguilar.
For Jacob Ross, community and labs manager for OU Gaming Club, the program is more than just a place to play games.
“This club, and now the venue, should be a safe place to be yourself and find people to be with,” said Ross. “And that's what I will continue to build as long as I am here. Community is everything.”
OU ECCI’s mission of paying it forward through gaming extends beyond campus. Some partnerships include Oklahoma Children’s Hospital at OU Health and Oklahoma City Police Athletic League. Through these connections, gaming forges relationships with youth in need of more support.
During the academic year, members of the OU gaming community make bi-weekly visits to the Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
“I was able to visit with children multiple times throughout the school year,” said Elliott Goldsmith, OU Esports ambassador and hospital volunteer. “I enjoyed every moment that I spent gaming with the kids.”
New this academic year is an event series called the Sooner Dojo Series. OU ECCI will host year-round events including EA Sports College Football tournaments, Smash & Chess weeklies and three campus intramural style leagues for the OU community and public.
To learn more about OU ECCI and how to get involved, visit https://www.ou.edu/esports.
